Bus Tickets to Bangkok Airport: 386 baht Water: 20 baht Taxi: 40 baht Taxi: 145 baht Taxi: 80 baht Bellman Tip: 50 baht Room: 1680 baht (thrown away on advance reservations in a joint that turned out to be shit, and we bailed) Room: 5745 baht (on stupidly expensive but acceptably clean airport hotel) Lunch: 1300 baht (at stupidly expensive […]
Spend in Thailand
Here are some general observations on costs in Thailand. At the time of writing, the conversion rate was around 30 baht per US Dollar.
A small bottle of water will run 5 to 10 baht in a store, 20 or so baht in a hotel or restaurant.
A large bottle of Singha or Chang Beer will cost 40 or so baht in a store, 80 or so in a restaurant or hotel. Small cans run 20 and 40, the first being store prices and the second being restaurant prices. Singha tends to be 5 or so baht more expensive than Chang.
Bus costs depend upon the type of bus, but it appears that the following are decent planning figures:
– A pickup-truck type bus will run about 1 baht per kilometer.
– A low-end, inter-city bus without air conditioning (think school bus) will run about half a baht per kilometer.
– An air-conditioned bus will run about 1 baht per kilometer.
– A top-end minibus (think 12 passenger van) will run about 3 baht per kilometer.
Tuk-Tuks are a wild card. Prices vary by town and distance. One thing of which you can almost always be certain is that the first quoted price is high. Give a counter-offer. Also, inquire with your hotel about the normal rates for different distances, and then insist on those rates. It helps to know how to talk money with the driver.
At a decent restaurant, one person should expect to have a main dish, a serving of rice, and small bottle of water for 100 baht or less. Add in beer at 80 baht for a large bottle.
For lodging, a low-end, A-frame bungalow will run 450 baht or less. A non-air-conditioned basic room should run about the same.
A nice room or bungalow with air-conditioning and its own bathroom should run in the 600 to 1000 baht range.
Anything over 1000 and you are getting into pricey accommodations.
Banks usually charge 1-1/2% to use their ATMs.
Motorbike rental fees average around 200 baht a day. That varies by 50 baht, depending on location and whether you get a manual or automatic bike.
You should be able to get your laundry done for 30 to 50 baht per kilogram at a shop offering that service. You’ll most likely pay a premium at a hotel.
To save money…
– Buy beer in a store and take it to your room.
– Eat where the locals eat, and avoid hotel meals.
– Rent a motorbike to travel, and avoid taxis and tuk-tuks.
– Get your laundry done in town, or hand wash it yourself.
– Look for a decent, mid-range room before charging off to a top-end hotel. The difference in room and service is often very small, but the difference in price can be big.
Expenses for August 30: Chanthaburi
Lunch: 300 baht Snacks: 170 baht Beer: 250 baht Room: 1380 baht Ice: 25 baht TOTAL: 2125 baht
Expenses for August 29: Ko Chang to Chanthaburi
Taxi to Ferry: 200 baht Ferry Ride: 120 baht Taxi to Trak: 120 baht Bus Tickets to Chantaburi: 134 baht Lunch: 260 baht Beer: 100 baht Room: 1380 baht TOTAL: 2314 baht
Expenses for August 28: Ko Chang, Thailand
Lunch: 370 baht Beer and Snacks and Water: 360 baht Motorbike: 220 baht Room: 1690 baht ATM Fee: 150 baht Dinner: 340 baht TOTAL: 3130 baht
Expenses for August 27: Ko Chang, Thailand
Lunch: 360 baht Beer and Water: 469 baht Motorbike: 220 baht Dinner: 300 baht Room: 1690 baht TOTAL: 3039 baht
Expenses for August 26: Ko Chang, Thailand
Gas: 170 baht Insect Spray: 45 baht Tickets to Waterfall: 400 baht Motorbike: 220 baht Beer and Water and Coffee an Such: 357 baht Waterfall Entrance: 40 baht Lunch: 440 baht Dinner: 300 baht Room: 1690 baht TOTAL: 3662 baht
Expenses for August 25: Ko Chang, Thailand
Sawngtheaw: 100 baht Lunch: 440 baht Motorbike: 220 baht Gas: 80 baht Bathroom: 10 baht Beer and Toiletries: 279 baht Room: 1690 baht TOTAL: 2819 baht
Expenses for August 24: Chanthaburi to Ko Chang, Thailand
Tuk-Tuk to Bus Station: 40 baht Bus Tickets to Trat: 104 baht Water and Gum: 30 baht Sawngtheaw to Pier: 200 baht Ferry Tickets to Ko Chang: 120 baht (one way) Beer: 90 baht Sawngtheaw to Hotel: 200 baht Late lunch: 440 baht Room: 1150 baht TOTAL: 2374 baht
Expenses for August 23: Battamabang, Cambodia to Chanthaburi, Thailand
Lunch: $8.50 (255 baht equivalent) Snacks: $2.50 (95 baht equivalent) Bus Tickets to Border: $8 (240 baht equivalent) Gifts: $42 (1260 baht equivalent) Moto Ride to border: $1 (30 baht equivalent) Taxi to Chantanburi: 1200 baht Dinner and Beer and Snacks: 560 baht ATM Fee: 150 baht Room: 1380 baht TOTAL: 5170 baht
Expenses for July 19: Ubon Ratchathani
Gas: 1380 baht Snacks: 30 baht Car: 600 baht Taxi: 150 baht Lunch: 340 baht Beer: 80 baht Sudafed: 30 baht Room: 1800 baht TOTAL: 4410 baht
Expenses for July 18: Prasat
Lunch: 290 baht Dinner: 360 baht Car: 600 baht Room: 500 baht TOTAL: 1750 baht
Expenses for July 17: Prasat
Beer and Such: 287 baht Ruins Entrance tickets: 200 baht Room: 500 baht Car: 1100 baht Dinner: 355 baht TOTAL: 2442 baht
Expenses for July 16: Surin to Prasat
Lunch: 275 baht Tickets to Ruins: 100 baht Beer and Snacks: 138 baht Room: 500 baht Dinner: 190 Car: 1100 baht TOTAL: 2303 baht
Expenses for July 15: Khong Chaim to Surin
Car: 1100 baht Lunch: 140 Snacks and Such: 200 Gas for Car: 730 Room: 900 baht Tip: 40 baht Dinner: 320 baht Beer: 160 baht TOTAL: 3590 baht
Expenses for July 14: Khong Chiam
Breakfast: 110 baht Car: 600 baht Beer and Gatorade and Such: 286 baht Room: 700 baht TOTAL: 1696 baht
Expenses for July 13: Ubon Ratchathani to Khong Chiam
Car rental: 600 baht Lunch: 295 baht Room: 700 baht Groceries (beer, water, laundry stuff, food stuff, coffee): 488 baht Gas for Stove: 35 baht Dinner: 330 baht TOTAL: 2448 baht
Expenses for July 12: Ubon Ratchathani
Lunch: 320 baht Motorbike Rental: 200 baht Beer while Hiding from the Rain: 120 baht Bungee Cord: 10 baht Cookies and Candy: 49 baht Room: 1150 baht TOTAL: 1849 baht
Expenses for July 11: Ubon Ratchathani
Lunch: 220 baht Motorbike Rental: 200 baht Dinner: 315 baht Beer, Water, Toiletries, and Such: 518 baht Room: 1150 baht TOTAL: 2403 baht
Expenses for July 10: Ubon Ratchathani
Snacks and Beer: 365 baht Lunch: 325 baht Bike rental: 200 baht Gas: 100 baht Dinner: 320 baht Room: 1150 baht TOTAL: 2460 baht
Expenses for July 9: Khon Kaen to Ubon Ratchathani
Taxi: 50 baht Bus tickets: 432 baht Snacks: 60 baht Tuk-tuk: 150 baht Tuk- Tuk: 100 baht Motorbike: 200 baht Gas: 100 baht Dinner: 220 baht Snacks and Beer: 383 baht Room: 1150 baht TOTAL: 2845 baht
Expenses for July 8: Nong Khia to Khon Kaen
Breakfast: 150 baht Snacks: 130 baht VIP Bis Tickets to Khon Kaen: 304 baht Bus Station Bathroom Tax: 11 baht Taxis: 210 baht Tips: 40 baht Water: 30 baht Lunch: 240 baht Minibar: 270 baht Room: 2950 baht TOTAL: 4335 baht
Expenses for July 7: Vientiane to Nong Khia
Soda: 10,000 Kip (38 baht equivalent) 3% Credit Card for Hotel Khamvongsa Bill: 37,400 Kip (140 baht equivalent) Taxis and tuk-Tuks: 220 baht Lunch: 185 baht Beer, Water, and Such: 500 baht Dinner: 90 baht Room: 240 baht (after deep discounts for electrical problems and having to change rooms) TOTAL: 1413 baht
Expenses for June 14: Chiang Khong
Room: 2000 baht Lunch: 350 baht Dinner: 350 baht TOTAL: 2790 baht
Expenses for June 15: Chiang Khong
Room: 2000 baht Lunch: 350 baht Dinner: 350 baht Laundry: 200 baht TOTAL: 2900 baht
Expenses for June 13: Chiang Khong
Taxi to Bus: 50 baht Two Coffees: 40 baht Bus to Hotel: 100 baht Brunch at Hotel: 350 baht Dinner at Hotel: 350 baht Bungalow Rental: 2000 baht TOTAL: 2890 baht
Expenses for June 6: Soppong to Pai
Breakfast: 160 baht Laundry: 100 baht Minibus Tickets to Pai: 200 baht Lunch: 275 baht Dinner: 260 baht Beer from Hotel Minibar: 370 baht (yeah, I had a few) Room at Pai River Corner: 1250 baht TOTAL: 2615 baht
Expenses for June 7: Pai
Massages: 700 baht Lunch: 280 baht Beer: 70 baht Two Bottles of Beer and Gum and Candy: 150 baht Dinner: 140 baht Laundry: 160 baht Room: 1250 baht TOTAL: 2750 baht
Expenses for 8 June: Pai to Lampang
This was an insanely expensive day, due to air and taxi travel from Pai to Lampang. Here goes… Two Air Tickets from Pai to Chiang Mai: 2598 baht Taxi from Chiang Mai to Elephant Center: 1000 baht Taxi from Elephant Center to Lampang: 600 baht Beer at Chang Thai Resort: 160 Lunch: 160 Beer at Bar: 160 Various Stuff and […]
Expenses for June 10: Lampang to Chiang Rai
Breakfast: 260 baht Lunch: 220 baht Snacks: 130 baht ATM Fee: 150 baht Two Bottles of Water: 14 baht Two Bus Tickets to Chiang Rai (low end, no aircon): 204 baht Taxi to Hotel: 50 baht Taxi to Town: 60 baht Dinner at The Old Dutch: 500 baht Taxi Back to Hotel: 50 baht Room: 1800 baht TOTAL: 3438 baht
Expenses for 9 June: Lampang
Breakfast: 260 baht Cab to bus Station: 40 baht Bus to Elephant Center: 60 baht Coffee: 50 baht Two Entrance Tickets to Elephant Center: 160 baht Lunch at Elephant Center: 180 baht Bus to Lampang: 80 baht Taxi to Hotel: 40 baht Dinner: 240 baht Shampoo, Razors, Toothpaste and Such: 288 baht Beer and Water at Hotel: 295 baht (yeah, […]